New York, March 2, 2026, 18:40 EST — After-hours
- Lam Research (LRCX) dropped 1.24% to close at $231, marking its third straight day in the red.
- Top executives reported a flurry of Form 4 filings, covering both fresh equity awards and stock sales tied to tax withholding.
- Tuesday brings Morgan Stanley’s TMT event, and investors are also eyeing Friday’s U.S. payrolls report.
Lam Research Corp finished Monday down 1.24% at $231.00, marking a third consecutive loss and pushing the chip equipment maker roughly 10% off its 52-week peak. Volume lagged at about 10.2 million shares, trailing the 50-day average. Applied Materials closed almost unchanged.
Investors are watching inflation cues, which have the potential to lift bond yields and pressure growth stocks like chipmakers. A U.S. manufacturing survey revealed a pickup in input costs. “The surge in the prices paid index will raise some eyebrows at the Fed,” said Thomas Ryan, North America economist at Capital Economics. Reuters
Next up: Friday’s U.S. jobs report for February, out March 6. A Reuters poll is calling for 60,000 new jobs. “Trying to find the winners and losers … and pretty much treading water,” said John Velis, Americas macro strategist at BNY, summing up the market mood. Reuters
U.S. stocks ended the day in mixed territory, capping a choppy session. The Nasdaq advanced 0.36%, while the S&P 500 managed a slim gain. Oil prices, meanwhile, surged on renewed geopolitical tensions. “I just don’t think the average market participant is that moved by the conflict until the price of oil gets to $100 a barrel,” said Alex Morris, CEO of F/m Investments. Reuters
Chip tool stocks drew attention after ASML CTO Marco Pieters told Reuters the firm is eyeing “the next 10, maybe 15 years.” The plan? Move into advanced packaging gear for AI chips. That’s one potential direction for capital, as investors parse new spending hints. Reuters
After hours, company filings landed in the spotlight. According to a Form 4—the SEC’s required insider-transaction notice—Lam CFO Douglas Bettinger was granted 12,547 shares on Feb. 27, and took on 18,820 market-based performance restricted stock units. He withheld 48,673 shares at $233.89 apiece to cover taxes tied to the vesting, the filing showed.
Neil Fernandes, senior vice president, logged a stock grant for 8,274 shares and 10,113 market-based performance restricted stock units. He also listed multiple “F” code moves at $233.89, the classification usually signaling shares set aside to cover taxes. SEC
Patrick Lord, executive vice president, held back four blocks of shares for taxes, among them 31,406 shares—each at the $233.89 reference price, according to the filing.
Investors won’t have to wait long for updates from Lam. Bettinger is set to speak at the Morgan Stanley TMT Conference on Tuesday, March 3, at 9:15 a.m. Pacific (12:15 p.m. Eastern). He’ll also appear at Cantor’s Global Technology & Industrial Growth Conference on March 11.
But things can flip in a hurry. A jobs report that tops forecasts, or yet another spike in energy costs lifting yields, would keep the squeeze on pricey chip stocks. And if chipmakers signal cuts to capital spending, equipment orders could feel it almost instantly.
Key data is just ahead. The U.S. Labor Department lists its February Employment Situation at 8:30 a.m. ET Friday, March 6. CPI for February lands March 11. Both releases could jolt rate expectations and shift the mood for LRCX heading into next week.
